Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-11


Mr.. Brown, of Philadelphia, is more
than I can find out.-America1e Book
maker.
Hard Roads to Travel.
When ne'er-do-well of the upper
class is "sent out" to the colonies, it is
very often the case that no introduce
tions are given to him. If he has just
commenced his downward course, and
has not acquired habits which will dis
grace himself and his family, he is
more lucky and may be furnished with
letters to few leading people in his
now home. Even then he may not
choose to present them. If he is al
ready drunkard he is pretty certain
to possess few or no letters. Shame
prevents his friends at home from in
| PRODUCING such O one to their colonial
acquaintance.
SO the young man lands with no
friends except those he may have made
on the voyage. He is sent out pre-
sumably to work for himself, and for
that purpose his family has thought-
fully provided him with small annuity,
which he receives by monthly INSTALL
ments. In most cases this will effect
ually prevent him seeking any employ
ment.
He can live on the small sum without,
doing any work, and that is the course
he generally adopts. But it may be
he has formed good resolutions, and
lands prepared to do his best and turn
over new leaf in new country. He
therefore presents himself, with this
object, to some person, either to a
clergyman or to some one to whom he
brings letters.
He obtains employment through the
agency of his new friend, and all goes
we'll for a time. Glowing accounts
reach home Of his new departure, his
success. But by and by the old Adam
revives in him. He has now no home
influence to check him, no circle of
friends to lure him from evil. The
result is that he lapses back on the old
track.
1t man is unable to "keep straight
in the midst Of family and kind friends,
it is not likely that he will manage to
do so when cast by himself into
strange life with perfect liberty to do
and see and be what he pleas,s.
The usual plan which custom favors
is to attempt to get such ne'er-do-
we'll upon o "run." It sounds at
tractive both to the youth himself and
to his distant friends. Under the
guidance OF q sturdy squatter lie may
learn the art Of managing a run, and
may thus eventually be able to pur-
chase one for himself. Meanwhile he
will be "far from the madding crowd"
away from the temptations of cities
and city life. And if such plan were
to be adhered to the scheme would
work we'll.
But, unfortunately, it is rarely
possible to adhere to it. For the run
holder knows too we'll the style of
man the youth represents. He has
tried him before over and over again,
and now he knows him and fights shy
of him. Or he takes him for a con-
siderable premium, perhaps, and the
youth who pays for his situation does
not consider himself bound to work.
| II the run-holder disagrees with this
view of matters it is comparatively
easy to leave the run. He is his own
master, and the little annuity so
thoughtfully provided by his friends
renders him Independent. So he be-
takes himself once more to the town,
and gathering round him his chosen
companions, he proceeds, as often as
not, to live as gayly as he may.
If any unexpected installments of
money come in he drinks them away.
By this time he has lost all respect for
himself and does not attempt to
struggle against his vices. He may
linger on in this condition for years.
He may take to the turf and other
forms Of gambling, and thus add some
thing to his small pension. But the
end is usually the same.
Colonial clergymen con best say how
often it is their painful duty to write
home the last sad news of such q one.
Incidents like these form one of the
saddest and most distressing pages in
colonial life.-LO3ldO4l EIcham0e.
Rev. Whangdoodle Lectures on Fools.
Berlubbed Awjience-Ef I waster
describe de differunt kinds oh fools dar
| am in dis heah town hit would take ma